Israel police arrest Jerusalem daycare owner, caregiver in charge where two babies died

The court ordered the autopsy, requested by the public prosecutor’s office and the police, while the victims’ families will be able to appeal the decision on Tuesday.

Israeli police on Monday decided to arrest the owner and caregiver of the unlicensed daycare center in Jerusalem’s Romema neighborhood, where two babies were killed and 55 others were hospitalized, after questioning both of them for several hours.

This comes after a court approved the autopsy of the two victims on Monday, even after the victims’ parents and ultra-Orthodox Jews across the country protested the procedure.

The court ordered the autopsy, requested by the public prosecutor’s office and the police, while the victims’ families will be able to appeal the decision on Tuesday.

Monday’s incident at the daycare killed two babies, with authorities suspecting the cause of death was heatstroke, and left 55 other children aged four months to three years in mild condition.

Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh protest autopsy declared illegal

Israeli police declared Monday evening’s protests against the victims’ autopsies in Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem illegal and began dispersing the demonstrators.

Israeli police eliminate protesters in Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem. (Credit: Israel Police/Telegram/According to Article 27A of the Copyright Law)

“The rioters throw objects, stones, set trash cans on fire and cause damage to vehicles, while blocking traffic lanes with their bodies and disrupting the daily life of citizens,” police said in a statement.

During one of the protests in Jerusalem, a truck driver was arrested and attacked by demonstrators while police described the situation as “dangerous” and warned that it could “end in a major disaster.”

Another road blockade was reported at the Highway 4 exit in Bnei Brak, according to Israeli media, with ultra-Orthodox protesters blocking the road and halting traffic.

Two babies dead after Jerusalem daycare disaster

Health officials say the babies killed and injured at a daycare in Jerusalem’s Romema neighborhood were most likely suffering from respiratory distress.

Blood tests and medical examinations of the affected children revealed no signs of carbon monoxide poisoning or infection. We now suspect that the cause of the tragedy is respiratory distress due to an environmental risk present on the site.

Dr. Itay Gal contributed to this report.